Block-signal.



M. J. FERQN. BLOCK SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

MICHAEL J. FERON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

B LOCK-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed September 19, 1908. Serial No. 453,716.

To all waomit' may concern:

Be it knou'n that I, Mrcnlini. J. Ferron, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Ohicago, in the county of @ook and State oflllinois, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Block-Signals,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of a novel and improved automaticblock-signal systoni for use upon elevated railways, surfacetrolley-lines, etc. my object being to provide a simple and effectivemeans for safeguarding, more especially, against rear-end collisions.

ln carrying out my invention I provide a series of Trisual signals, suchas targets, lamps, or the like, placed at predetermined distances apartalong the railway-track and each in such relation with reference theretothat it will be obscured by a passing train from the view of themotorman, or driver, of a following train when the latter approaches theformer too closely under the rules.

ln the drawing-iligure 1 is a diagram matic illustration ol adouble-track railway equipped my improved signaling system.; Fig. 2 asimilar view at a curve in the tracks; an( Figs. 3 and 1i, face and edgeviews, respectively, of a combined target and light signal such as Iprefer to employ.

5 and 6 are railway-tracks; 7 and 8 station-platforms; and 9 and 1()trains. rThe trains indicated run in the direction designated by thearrow. In other words, they nove upon the right-hand track. The track 6is for trains running in the opposite direction. 1t is to be understood,furthermore, that the motormans or drivers compartment is at theright-hand side of the forward end of each train.

Located at predetermined distances apart betr-.reen the tracks 5, 6 aresignals 11 which may be constructed as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4t.Each consists of a standard or post 12 having a slot in its upperend-portion to receive a square board or plate 13 in the mannerindicated. In practice, the post 12 and board 13 may be painted white,and a black hulls-eye 14 painted or otherwise provided in the positionshown. Below the bulls-eye is an opening 15 through the post to receivean incandescent electric-lamp 16. T he target answers as a dayesignaland the light as a fog or night-signal. 1n practice, the targets orsignals are about four feet in height so that tie bulls-eyes 14 aresome- .gether, so that one, at

what above the level of the floors of the cars of passing trains.

Presuming, for example, that the rules governing the ruiming of trainson the track illustrated in Fig. 1 forbid the approach of a train nearerthan, say, 300 feet from the rear end of a train ahead, the signals 11may be alaced, say, 40() feet apart. The signals are located close tothe tracks in a manner merely to be safely cleared by the trains. Themotormans position on the second train, 9, is at 17, and the rules makeit necessary for him to keep in view say at least one signal ahead. Fig.1 shows that the train 9 has approached the rear end of train 10 asclose y as the rules governing the ruiming of trains on this sectionpermit. The motorman on train 9 is about to pass a signal 11 and hisvision of the next signal 11 is along the dotted line 1S. Any nearerapproach to the rear end of train 10 would have caused the latter toobscure the said signal from the view of the motorman of train 9, and itwould at once become apparent to him that he has approached the trainahead too closely. On curves, as indicated in Fig. 2, the signals may beplaced more closely toleast, may always be in sight of the motorman ofan approaching train. The rules usually provide that a motorman shallmove his train more slowly on curves than on straight tracks, so that oncurves a train may, Without danger, approach a train ahead more closelythan upon straight tracks, thus permitting the signals 11 to be placednearer together.

In the system illustrated the signals placed between tracks answer fortrains running in both directions. 1n a system wherein trains run uponthe left-hand, instead of the right-hand, track, and the motormansposition is the saine as herein shown, namely, at the right-hand side ofthe front of the train, the signals 11 would be placed at the outersides of the tracks instead of between them. Where necessary, ordesirable, the signals 11 may be suspended from overhead supportsinstead of being mounted on standards, as described. It is to beunderstood that, in practice, various contingencies would govern thedistances at which signals are spaced apart on different sections of arailway. For exam le, where the rules prescribe comparatively slowrunningtime, they may be placed a comparatively short distance apart,While where the rules demand faster running of the trains the signalsmay be placed farther apart, or the rules may demand that the motormankeep at least two signals in sight at all times.

One reason why a signaling system like the present is desirable,particularly on elevated railways, is due to the fact that many motormenare unable to measure distances with the eye with any degree ofaccuracy. Therefore, when traffic demands that trains be run atintervals as frequent as safety may permit, the too near approach of onetrain behind another not infrequently, when, for example, one train isobliged to stop suddenly, results in the collision with it of thefollowing train through the motormans inability to stop the latter intime. A system of this kind, furthermore, makes it easy for aninspector, or other oflicial, to note whether or not motormen areobeying the rules with regard to approaching trains ahead too closely.The present system makes is possible to establish rules regarding therunning of trains with safety where, without the system, such rulescould not be Jfollowed by motormen with necessary certainty. Forexample, on an electric railway the current provided is usuallyinsufficient to permit more than a certain number of trains to start upat the same time. By establishing a rule that in case of congestion, orafter a blockade, no train shall start until the train ahead has passedbeyond the signal ahead this difficulty may be safeguarded withoutover-reliance upon the judgment of the motormen.

It is to be understood that my improved block-signal system may bemodified as desired to meet special requirements without departing fromthe spirit of my invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In ablock-signal system for railways, a series of signals placed atpredetermined distances apart along the track and each located withreference to the track to be obscured by a passing train from view fromthe motormans position on a following train approaching with too nearproximity the first-named train, for the purpose set forth.

2. ln a block-signal system for railways, a series of signals placed atpredetermined distances apart along one side of and close to the track,and each in a plane above that of floors and beneath that of roofs ofthe cars, to be obscured by a passing train from view from the motormansposition on a following train approaching with too near proximity tosaid first-named train, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a block-signal system for railways, a series of combined targetand lamp signals placed at predetermined distances apartk along thetrack and each located with reference to the track to be obscured by apassing train from view from the motormans position on a following trainapproaching with too near proximity the first-named train, for thepurpose set forth.

MICHAEL J. rERoN.

In presence of- W. T. JoNEs, R. A. SGHAEFER.

